Chapter Thirty-One

Present

"Let me clean her."

I stared up at Vee. She'd broken the silence, and she stared at me calmly despite the protective and feral look on my face. She continued when I said nothing.

"She doesn't need to wake up in her own filth. It smells like death in here, and on her. She's covered in blood. Get her some sweats, a comfortable shirt, and some underwear. I'll wash her. She deserves to wake up in some sort of comfort."

The room felt frozen. It was like being in a wake. I almost refused, pulling Nora closer to me. Nehemiah pulled me back slowly. Vee walked out, and I heard the tub fill with water.

"It will be better for her. Vee, as well. Focus on getting ready for her return. You should change the sheets; they're disgusting. It will make her happy to wake up in comfort, surrounded by friends."

I knew that Nehemiah was the expert. I nodded quietly, and slowly lifted Nora towards Vee, who'd reentered the room. When I saw her full body, I noticed that even her pores and lower area had been bleeding. When she carried her away, I went to Nora's armoire and pulled out her favorite sweats, a camisole and the underwear that Vee asked for.

Vee had apparently had a bag in her car, because she'd brought her own spare change of clothes, and she took them into the bathroom. I knocked quietly, and she opened the door enough to take the clothes, and locked the door behind her. I sat down on the ground outside of the door, listening to them. Nehemiah stared from the bedroom door.

Vee needs her time to cope as well. She is Nora's closest friend. It would hurt her deeply to actually lose Nora. Give her a chance; be patient.

I nodded curtly. He walked into the kitchen, and came back with a glass of water.

I'm going to go switch with Ezra.

I eyeballed the glass of water.

Elliot needs to live, remember? He needs to drink something.

I nodded again, and he went into the chamber behind the bedroom. I turned to listen to Vee with Nora.

I heard water moving, and soft yet vigorous scrubbing. Vee was having a one-sided conversation, almost as if Nora wasn't gone at all.

"Look at us, babe. Immortal, adults, and still getting into trouble the way we did as teens. Ah, those days. We're still that silly." More water. "From about age six to fifteen, I was always the one getting us in trouble. Taking crayons, to sneaking to talk in the bathroom, to throwing milk cartons at Marcie, to scandalous boy talks. Except you never did the talks, you just listened. You always listened, even when my ideas were crazy. Always so sensible. Then, you met Patch, and all of a sudden you were causing as much trouble as me. You tried to protect me; you tried your hardest, even though I wish you'd have told me so much earlier. But you were so happy with him, and I, you know eventually, was happy you were happy. Through it all, we've been each other's conscience. You're the angel on my shoulder, and I'm the little demon on yours. We've always been together."

I heard her begin to cry, although she was still laughing.

"I'm so sorry you had to suffer all on your own. I wish I'd have been there; if I hadn't left you, Elliot wouldn't have been able to walk in the room. Of course, it was your idea I leave, but I should have told you 'No', that I wouldn't leave until you were better. I'm going to need you to stop getting into so much trouble, babe. Especially without me. We're best friends, you know? I was terrified, knowing you would have to die. It…it reminded me of when Scott died. I already lost him; I couldn't lose you too. Who would keep me in check? Who'd buy donuts with me? You don't get to leave me, not after all the crap we've been through…"

My heart was aching by this point, so I had to get up. It was Vee's time with Nora, and it was private. Walking into the bedroom, I ripped the sheets off of the bed. Finding her favorite black silk ones, I replaced them. I went to the sink, threw the bloody ones in it, and set them on fire with a little accelerant.

While I was watching them burn, Ezra stumbled into the kitchen and poured himself some water. He looked exhausted. So did Nehemiah. While we'd healed from the main injuries, our bodies were still tired from the stress. He smiled wearily at me, and I tried to return it.

You think you could get us all some blankets or something? He asked. So they were staying, then. Okay.

I nodded, and went to a closet to go get them. I tossed Ezra a blanket and pillow, and he dragged the small French couch into the bedroom. Immediately, he fell asleep.

An hour later, Vee finally came out, freshly showered, with a clean Nora in tow. She looked better already, with all of the blood washed away. She was still deathly pale, but her skin lesions were already healing. Vee laid her down on her back onto the sheets and tucked her in. She left, and came back with a pitcher of water and some glasses.

She held one towards me, but I shook my head. Filling one, she drank it.

"It's for Nora when she wakes up. She'll have to be thirsty." Seeing the pillows and blankets I'd found, she took one of each and laid down next to Nora. She soon fell asleep, holding Nora's hand.

Nehemiah came out of the chamber, and closed it behind him.

He's unconscious. I see no issues from him in the future. If you don't oppose, I'd like to rest my mind.

I nodded, and he grabbed a blanket and fell asleep on a chair on the other side of the room. It had to be uncomfortable, but they couldn't feel it anyway.

I looked around the room. All of them were knocked out, exhaustion plain on their faces. I was exhausted as well, probably more so than any of them, more so than I'd ever been. The stress of the night had affected us all. Still, I didn't want to fall asleep. I didn't have the patience to fall asleep, and I didn't know how they were pulling it off.

I was pretty grateful for them. Even Vee. If Ezra and Nehemiah hadn't been there for me at Elliot's ambush, I may not have been able to take Elliot down as quickly, and he'd have made Nora suffer more than she did. And Vee was moral support for Nora, regardless of how much I liked her.

Standing, I went to my wardrobe. I opened the small drawer where I kept cufflinks, and began searching. Ah, there it was. I lifted out the tiny pair of wings, and clipped them to my silver chain. I then removed the chain and placed it around Nora's neck.

"I'm here when you wake, Angel."

I kissed her softly on the lips and lay down next to her.

"Always."

I closed my eyes.

Hours Later

Nora's POV

I opened my eyes, unable to move. From the way the ceiling looked and the bed felt, I realized in was in my and Patch's bedroom. I sighed internally. My suffering, it was finally over. I'd made it.

Sorry y'all, I've been kind of busy. Exam tomorrow; crunch time tonight! Figured I'd give you this chapter before I vanished again! Read and Review!